Where in the world are we today? And tomorrow?
The Lisbon Strategy, also known as the Lisbon Agenda or Lisbon Process, was an action and development plan devised in 2000, for the economy of the European Union between 2000 and 2010. Europe 2020, on the other hand, is a 10-year strategy proposed by the European Commission on 3 March 2010 for the advancement of... Continue Reading →
This is my response to Conceptualizing the Domestic Impact of Europe by Tanja A. Börzel and Thomas Risse (2003). Börzel and Risse address the fundamental question: ‘How do the member states influence the Europeanisation process, and how does the Europeanisation process influence them in return?’ The authors provide a comprehensive tool for understanding the dynamics... Continue Reading →
This article is my response to Stanley Hoffmann's Obstinate or Obsolete? The Fate of the Nation-State and the Case of Western Europe (1966). First of all, it should be mentioned that Hoffmann was somewhat sceptical of the regional integration movement in Europe. Considering the timing of this writing—when Charles de Gaulle was making significant moves... Continue Reading →
Sustainability is the most imminent and urgent issue faced by the EU. Recognising the progress EU has shown towards sustainable development and challenges thereof, this essay considers the importance of global partnerships, particularly multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSP) and policy coherence for development (PCD). Lessons from Millennium Development Goals Throughout human history, the powerful used development as... Continue Reading →
In the wake of the Brussels terrorist attack of 2016, the Juncker Commission made considerable efforts towards an effective and genuine Security Union. This article assesses the outline of the Security Union as envisioned by the Juncker Commission. It then examines the fundamental changes that emerged with the inauguration of the von der Leyen Commission,... Continue Reading →
The European Union has always been evolving in its institutional reform and enlargement, to bring European nations together as an ever-closer union. At the same time, nationalist movements have emerged in recent decades, notably in Scotland, Catalonia and Flanders, among others. The possibility of smaller regions breaking off from existing European countries and rejoining the... Continue Reading →
German Chancellor Merkel called him ‘childish’, and French President Macron used the phrase ‘what arrogance’. These were the remarks concerning Dutch Prime Minister Rutte at the Special European Council meeting on 20-21 February 2020 (Pieters, 2020), where the heads of EU member states gathered to discuss the EU’s long-term budget. Work on the multiannual financial... Continue Reading →
Following the end of the Second World War, Europe saw numerous attempts of regional integration. While many initiatives remained at the intergovernmental level or simply failed, the Schuman Plan prevailed, adequately addressing the age-long Franco-German problem and paving a new platform for lasting prosperity and peace of Europe. The motivations for this European integration effort... Continue Reading →
Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union clearly states that the EU is founded upon the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. The EU institutions abide by these values in every action, and the Member States are expected to do the same... Continue Reading →
Federica Mogherini served as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy from 2014 to 2019. Before her appointment, she had served as Italy’s Foreign Minister for six months. Policy experts raised concerns that Mogherini was not as experienced as former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt or former Polish Foreign Minister... Continue Reading →
The Pragmatic Globalist 